Pressure-operated adjustable support for a sanitary attachment of sink or basin type



y 1950 R. R. FREUND ETAL 2,514,540

PRESSURE-OPERATED ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR A SANITARY ATTACHMENT OF SINK 0R BASIN TYPE Filed 001:. 1, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l0 l7 l D I 1 IL I x lb M BY 10%.? am

July 11, 1950' R R FREUND ETAL 2,514,540

PREssuRE-dPEATED ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR A SANITARY ATTACHMENT 0F SINK QR BASIN TYPE 7 Filed Oct. 1, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToRS.

Kala-Kr A. KEV/Y9.

Patented July 11, 1950 PRESSURE-OPERATED ADJUSTABLE SUP- PORT FOR A SANITARY ATTACHMENT OF SINK OR BASIN TYPE Robert R. Freund, Mount CarmeL-and James M. Royal, Villa Park, Ill., and-Louis Schoelkopf, ,Madison, Wis.; said Royal and said Schoelkopf assignors to .said Freund Application October 1, 1945, SerialNo. 619,542.

8 Claims.

This invention relates to an invalid and like bedst-ructure and more particularly to a'sanitary attachmentfor same. The articulated bed structure is more fully 11- lustrated, described and claimed in copending application-Serial No. 537,220, filed May 25, 1944, (now abandoned) and entitled Hospitalization Bed.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide a bed of the aforesaid character, with a sanitary attachment that .may be used by the patient for toilet purposes, such as hand and. face washing, brushing of teeth, gargling, and the like, and which may be used by the examining or attending physician for tray and like purposes, or which maybe positioned so that it is laterally positioned relative to the bed as distinguishedfrom overlying the same or lying parallel thereto for the two preceding purposes.

The chief feature of the present invention consists in providinga bed structure of the character set forth in'the aforesaid application with an attachmentthat is "of sanitary sink or basin type and which is provided with a drain, and which is further; provided with a water supply for respective use when desired. Other objects and features of the invention will be set :forth more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention'will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view ofa bed-of the character set forth in the copending application. This articulated bed is shown with the foot and leg section lowered, the seat section substantially horizontally positioned, and the back and head section partially erected, that is, tilted upwardly about 60 as will appear more fully 'froman inspection of .Fig. 3. This Fig. :1 also shows in top plan view the dual compartment sink structure and its support; and two dotted line representations thereof illustrate two alternative positions, one-wherein the sink structure extends forwardly and parallel to the bed, and the other wherein the tray structure extends laterally of the bed.

Fig. .2 is aside elevational view of the sink structure, its mounting, water supply and drain, together with .a portion of the bed to which itis attached. I

Fig. 3 isa side elevational view of the bed .and associated par-tscarried thereby together with :the sink structure, the latter being shown in full linesv in a position corresponding to that illustrated inFig. '1 by .full lines, and :the-dottedlines indicating a second or elevated position of :said sink structure.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the .centr.al column structure.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transversesection taken on :line 5-5 of Fig. 4 of the ldrawingswand inthe directions of the arrows.

In the drawings :lll indicates a pair of side frames which are suitably connected :at-thebase by; members :I I, and the base portion isaldside frames-are provided with tubular sockets '=I-2.:tha-t are horizontally directed to receive -t-he-.-tubular members l3-transversel-y COIIHGCtGdSfiS HtJA and mountingswivelingpasters l5.

Herein upon a common pivot l6 ther e=is;pivotal-l-y-supperted ';a :back or head rest section 11 and a seat section :I 8. pivotally connected thereto; and .attheforward nd thereof as:.a-t l9 isthe foot and .legasection 20 upon which is mounted at each side :a rack i2| for detachably and .adjust-: ably; supporting a foot rest portion 22., The :lat-e ter is manually adjustable'upon the leg sect-ion. It :is not essential that the seat section and back section have -,a'.commo.n pivot. .Allofthfi adjacent'is more fully illustrated; described and claimed in the copending application aforemene tioned.

Herein line;25w-indicates theline that is selectively connected to the household water supply. or to .the pressure water supply asibefcre unentioned land *for'rtherpurpose of this invention. It doesnnot appear-necessary to illustrate .leithereofthese two supplies, norrfurther describe :the same; This-supply 25 communicates/with .avalve 26 controlledbya stem 2] :guided'in'brackets 2 8 and 29 and mounting the rregulati-nazhandle 3!! sad, jacent the-;seatsection. The bracket 28 r-is mounted upon a substantially transverse member 3| .of 'thevside frame portionashowndn" figsfitiand bracket-2.9 ismounted onthe frame above bracket 28.

Now referring more particularly to Figs: 2 and 3, it willrbenoted that thereeisprovided-an elongated. rectangular sink structure.- 3-2 .:wh-ichhas atone corner an opening-3,3.andhereinthere A at opening or outlet 33. This compartment,

in other words, serves merely as a sink structure.

Whenever it is desired to have a basin efiect, the faucet 38 is positioned so as to discharge into compartment B and with the plug 3! in the .4 clamped in position within the tube 48 whenever that is desired. It will also be obvious from the foregoing that when the tray structure is positioned above the bed as shown by the full lines in Fig. 1, the structure when covered will serve as a table, and, if desired, when elevated, can serve as a book rest, etc. See dotted lines Fig. 3. When the sink structure is not to be positioned across the bed, it may be otherwise positioned as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.; .When positioned as indicated by the dotted lines designated by the letter this sink structure may serve as a receptacle for used instruments and aperture 36, the required amount of water may be supplied to compartment B and'then the hands, face and utensils, etc., can be washed",

using compartment B. For allowing such use the stopper 31 is removed and the water in come.

This cover is dished or the like so as to set in the sink structure, the edge 43 of the cover resting upon the out-turned rim 44 of the sink structure 32. This cover, of necessity, is' longitudinally slotted-as at-45 so that the faucet may project thereabove. When in patient use, the compartment B may retain the various toilet accessories including tooth brush, soap dish and the like, and yet permit normal use of compartment A as a sink when the cover is removed by the patient or nurse.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be observed that a tubular member 46 is provided with a comparatively large flange 41 at its upperend, and the bottom of the tray structure is rigidlysecured to said flange in any suitable manner as by welding or the like, butin such position that outlet 33 registers with the open end of tubular member 46. This tubular member 46 is telescopically received by another tubular member 48, the latter being received by a clamp 49. I

This clamp structure is manually controlled asat 58 and for initial positioning the tube 48 may be raised or lowered in the clamp and locked in that position. This clamp structure 49 is suitablysecured as at to the side frame auxiliary member 3 I. If desired, in view of the limited tilting movement of seat section I8, and in view of thefiexible connections to the tray elevating piston and cylinder structure and water supply pipe before mentioned and a waste structure to be described, it will be quite obvious that the clamp 49 may be mounted directly upon the seat section providing the side frame H1 does not interfere therewith. The preferred mounting, however, is upon the side frame as illustrated.

The tube 48 has a lateral enlargement 52 suitably threaded to receive a threaded stem 53 terminating in a hand wheel or knob 54 and by this means the intermediate tube 46 may be rigidly by the patient, nurse or physician, as desired or required. 1 Whenever it is desired to position the sink structure for side table use, it may be swung to the position shown and indicated by the dotted lines D in Fig. 1'.

The lower end of the tube 46 is indicated by the numeral 55. The lowest possible position of said end is above an outlet 53 approximately midway in the tube 48 and this lateral outlet is a waste and is connected'by flexible hose or conduit 57 to a suitable waste receiving receptacle. Positioned in the lower end of th'e'tube '48 is a piston 58 mounting a stem 59 that extends through a partition 68 in the tube 48. The upper end of said stem includes a transverse portion 6| upon which rests the lower open end 55 of the tube 46.

In the extreme lower end of the tube 48 is a connection and closure 62 connected by a flexible conduit 63 to a three-way valve 64 communicating with a pressure tank T0. The stem of this in. This through the rod 59 raises the tube 46- together with the tray carried thereby. When the desired elevation is reached, the handle 68 is turned toposition the valve in the cutoff position. Thus the sink structure is held in the'desired elevated position. I It will be noted that the sinkstructure and tube can be rotated independently of the elevating mechanism so that at any time, so long as the hand wheel 54 is not tightened, the sink structure may be swung into any one of the aforementioned lateral positions orany position intermediate to same.

Now, whenever it 'isdesired to lower the sink structure, the handle 68 is rotated so as to completely cut off the reservoir 10 and simultaneously connect the flexible conduit 33 with therelease port 69. The weight of the sink structure, etc.,' gradually exhausts the pressure fluid which has been the power elevating medium, and when the sink structure has lowered to the desired position, the valve is closedto thefirst'mentioned position. Of course, when the sinkstructure is to be completely lowered, the valve may be retained in the pressure releasing position.- I 4 a It will be remembered that the water supply pipe 40 extends coextensively 'with the tube 46 and projects above the same-and terminatesbelow the same for substantiallyall elevations" of the sink. As shown, the tube- 4ll'at'its lower end is turned angularly at H and passes out through the tube as-at T2 immediately above the partition 60 and belowsthejwaste 5t.

As shown. in Fig. 3 the p'owerzgmeanswfor; elevatin the 'sink structure 'is-not..-interfered' with .byjthe watersupply pipe with-inthejtubefifi or-vice versa. The exposed end 12=is connectedfghyg'a flexible hose 13 to the valve-wbody26 having-xthe valveitherein controlled by-the-rod 2F! .inuturn controlled by the handle 30 initially described.

It will be recalled thatli'n'efZSconnected to a valv'e 26 is intended to zb'e-a pressure line; Now if the line 2-5 is directly connected-to a household pressure system, then the degree of valveepening determines the rate of flow from the faucet 38 when the handle 39 thereof is fully opened. Whenever the supply pipe 25 connects to a bed carried water reservoir, this reservoir is under pressure and that pressure is indicated by gauge 23 connected by line 24 to such reservoir.

The pressure cylinder '10 can be used to apply such pressure to such reservoir and maintain the desired pressure therein. In any event water under pressure is supplied by pipe 25 to faucet 38. It may be here noted that pressure tank may be a compressed air cylinder of large size or a smaller compressed oxygen cylinder readily available upon the open market.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the sink structure may be positioned at will by the patient, the sink structure may be manually positioned and locked in that position by the hand wheel 54, and the sink structure may be utilized for any and all the purposes hereinbefore set forth in any one or more of the several positions set forth.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein, as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In combination a sink structure and supporting means, said means being of longitudinally extensible and relatively transversely rotatable character for sink structure adjustment, said means including an outer tubular member, and an inner tubular member, the latter projecting above the top of the former, the inner member terminating at its lower end within the outer tubular member, the opposite ends of the inner member being open, the upper end of the inner member communicating with the sink structure interior for drainage purposes, the outer tubular member having a closed lower end, and a waste outlet in the outer tubular member below the lowest position of the inner member lower end.

2. In combination a sink structure and supporting means, said means being of longitudinally extensible and relatively transversely rotatable character for sink structure adjustment, said means including an outer tubular member, and an inner tubular member, the latter projecting above the top of the former, the inner member terminating at its lower end within the outer tubular member, the opposite ends of the inner member being open, the upper end of the inner member communicating with the sink structure interior for drainage purposes, the outer tubular member having a closed lower end;

extensible "and relatively transversely rotatable character for sink structure adjustment, said means including an outer tubular member, and an inner member therein and rigid with the sink structure at the upper end and terminating at its lower end within the outer member, piston. means below the said lower end and operatively connected thereto, said outer member forming a. cylinder for said piston means, and means sup-- plying pressure fluid to the cylinder for sink;

structure elevation.

4. In combination a sink structure and supporting means, said means being of longitudinally extensible and relatively transversely rotatable character for sink structure adjustment, saidv means including an outer tubular member, and an inner tubular member, the latter projecting above th top of the former, the inner member terminating at its lower end within the outer tubular member, the opposite ends of the inner member being open, the upper end of the inner member communicating with the sink structure interior for drainage purposes, the outer tubular member having a closed lower end, a waste outlet in the outer tubular member below the lowest position of the inner member lower end, partition means in the sink structure forming a plurality of compartments therein, the partition means being apertured near the bottom thereof for successive compartment drainage, and aperture closing removable means.

5. A sink structure support and supply including in combination a pair of telescopically associated tubular members consisting of an outermost and an intermediate tubular member, an innermost tubular member therein of greater length than that of the intermediate tubular member, the outermost and innermost members being relatively stationary, the outermost member having an outlet intermediate the ends thereof for sink drainage, the innermost member having connection to a water supply and a discharge to the sink, mechanism below the intermediate member and operatively connected thereto for movement thereof, said mechanism comprising a cylinder having a piston therein in connection with a, source of fluid under pressure.

6. In combination a sink structure, a clamping support including two relatively pivotal parts, a tube longitudinally adjustable on the support for sink pisitioning at different levels, a member telescopically and rotatably supported in said tube and having its upper end extending above the upper end of the tube and secured to the sink for support thereof, and means for clamping said member and tube together in adjusted position for selective positioning of the sink.

'7. Mechanism as defined by claim 6 wherein piston and cylinder means is provided and same is of pressure fluid operable type for sink elevation purposes.

8. Mechanism as defined by claim 6 wherein piston and cylinder means is provided and-same is of pressure fluid operable type for sink elevation purposes, the cylinder portion of said means consisting of the lower portion of the tube, and the piston portion being enclosed thereby.

ROBERT R. JAMES M. ROYAL. LOUIS F. SCHOELKOPF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 1

8 STATES PATENTS Number Number 147,67 1 682,407: 

